“Okay, keep your secrets.”
But friends didn’t act the way Tate had when he saw Zach. The way his eyes had roamed over his body while his eyes flashed with lust. Had my best friend slept with the youngest Frost brother? And what about Oscar? This was going to get super messy.
Zach folded his arms over his chest. “Just like you kept yours.”
Okay, was everyone mad at me now? Even though I deserved it, I didn’t have to like it. I needed love and encouragement, just like everyone else. A hug or a little kiss on my head to remind me that I was important, too. That even though I was struggling, I would be fine and get through it. There was suddenly a lot of commotion on the ice, and when I turned my attention to the game, it looked like someone had crashed into Tom.
“Don’t touch my husband!” Blake shot to his feet. “That motherfucker! I’ll kill him!”
Yikes.
“Boo, he’s fine. Look, he’s already up, and oh!” Maverick grimaced. “Goalies don’t usually fight like that.”
I watched in wonder as everyone began fighting on the ice. It was common knowledge, and courtesy, that you weren’t supposed to touch the goalie. It made sense that everyone was coming to Tom’s defense. Including Cole, who had jumped over the wall, dropped his gloves and swung at the first Colorado player he came across. Punches were thrown, and I was pretty sure I saw blood on the ice just as Cole went down.
“He’s fine,” Beau tried to tell me. “Fights happen all the time. I was involved in my share when I was playing.”
We watched in horror as Cole struggled to get back up. Wyatt skated over to check on him, then Cole dropped onto the ice. My entire body trembled. This was bad. Really bad. Bile raced up my throat, and I clapped a hand over my mouth to prevent myself from throwing up on everyone.
“We have to go,” Beau announced. He headed toward the door with Dean, then glanced over his shoulder. “That means you, too, Reed.”
The Next Day
SLEEPING IN THIS HOSPITALchair had been a choice. My entire body felt like it had been twisted into a pretzel. I stretched my arms and sat up, then realized Cole was awake. His eyes were glossed over, like maybe he had been given some strong pain medication, but he looked pissed. The clenched jaw was enough to tell me that. Maybe staying had been a bad idea? I had just been so scared when he passed out. Worried that I would never have the chance to tell him how much I loved him. Even if he didn’t feel the same.
“Husband, huh?” His voice was raspy.
Oh, right... I had told the hospital staff we were married, so that I didn’t have to leave. Beau hadn’t even flinched when the words tumbled out. In fact, he had wrapped an arm around my shoulders in a side hug.
“I was worried.” I dragged a hand through my hair. “But you’re going to be okay, so I can go. I’m sure your dads will be here soon enough. You’ll want to spend time with them.”
Cole raised his brows. “I need you to come closer.”
Like hell. “I’m good, thanks.”
“I didn’t ask, Reed,” he growled. Why was that so sexy?
I let out a long breath and stood, then walked slowly over to the bed and sank onto the chair Beau had been in when I fell asleep. Cole patted the bed next to him.
“No.” I shook my head. Was he high on the medication?
“You told my father about us.”
“Well, I mean...yeah. I told Beau and Dean what I did.”
Cole patted the bed again. “Now.”
“Right.” I tried to sit on the edge of the mattress, but he tugged on the back of my shirt. I twisted around to stare at him. “You want me to lie down?”
Cole nodded. “Right next to me.”
I pulled my legs up, moved into the spot next to him, and stared at Cole as he watched me. Silence stretched.
I let out a loud sigh. “What do you hope to accomplish with this?”
“I just wanted to see you,” he whispered. He reached over to tuck a piece of hair behind my ear. “You were worried.”
I wrinkled my nose. “I was terrified. I thought you were dead, Cole. What was I going to do with the rest of my life if you were gone? I’d rather suffer in silence while you married some beautiful blond woman with a plastic smile. That would be my personal hell, but at least you’d still be—”